JOURNAL 



OF THE 



ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BENGAL, 



Part II.— NATURAL SCIENCE. 

 No. II.— 188S 



VII. — Natural History Notes from H. M.'s Indian Marine Survey Steamer 

 ^Investigator,^ Commander Alfued Carpenter, R. N"., Commanding. 

 No. 2. Description of a new Species of the Amphipod Genus Melita 

 from the Bay of Bengal— By G. M. Giles, M. B., F. U. C. S., 



Surgeon-Natiiralist, Indian Marine Survey. 



[Received April 21st ;— Eead May 6th, 1885.] 

 (With Plate III.) 



The little animal described below was brought up by the hempen 

 tangles from 12J fathoms near the Mutla Light Ship. When placed in 

 a glass jar, it shewed a tendency to hide itself away amongst the pieces 

 of tangle which remained sticldng to some specimens of Murex spinosa 

 that had been placed in the jar along with it, and when disturbed escajjed 

 by rapid backward jerks. 



Two specimens were taken, one slightly larger than the other. 

 The larger was used for dissection and proved to be a female. The 

 smaller was reserved for preservation. Fig. 1. was taken from it. 

 The relative proportions of its parts appeared identical in all respects 

 with those of the larger, with the exception of the propodite and 

 dactylopodite of the second gnathopod, which in the larger specimen 

 exceeded in size that of the smaller to an extent out of all proportion 

 to the difference of their sizes, which were about 5 and 6 mm. re- 

 spectively. Colour — ivory-white marked with patches of chocolate- 

 coloured pigment. 

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